Chef Aaron Sanchez: A Chef, A Mentor, a Buddhist and a Philanthropist

Today’s guest is someone who truly embodies what it means to reach higher—Chef Aaron Sanchez. I met Chef Aaron Sanchez about 15 years ago at his friend’s restaurant in New Orleans. My family and I had discovered him on the Food Network’s show, Chopped back in 2009 and he was one of our favorites.

Over the years, we kept in touch and he was gracious enough to be a guest on my previous What2Know (which morphed into the Real Chemistry pod). I was reminded of what a talented, humble but still competitive chef he was on HBO/Max’s Wildcard Kitchen this year and couldn’t resist reaching out to see if he’d join me once again on the Reaching Higher Podcast.

During our engaging conversation, he talks about starting life as a mischievous kid who found structure and purpose in the kitchen and his journey to becoming one of the most respected voices in food today.

Chef Aaron’s journey is rooted in mentorship, humility, and heart. Inspired early on by his mother, his grandmother and the legendary Chef Paul Prudhomme, Aaron learned that cooking isn’t just about flavor—it’s about discipline, culture, and life lessons. In addition to Chopped, you may have also seen him on shows like MasterChef, Next Iron Chef, Heat Seekers, Chef vs City, and Taco Trip. Most importantly we dive into his founding of the Chef Aaron Sanchez Impact Fund, how he picks his candidates and why he sees mentoring them as so critically important.

Show links

• Impact Fund: https://www.aaronsanchezimpactfund.com/
• Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ChefAaronSanchez/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefaaronsanchez
• Hiking My Feelings: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/